Cabela's could be open Hammond in 2007

HAMMOND | Cabela's will definitely build in Hammond and hopes to open its megastore in 2007.

"Some projects go smoothly and some take longer," Cabela's spokesman James Powell said. "This is just one where it's taking longer to get the details worked out. We definitely still have a plan to build a store there."

A state economic development official said incentive negotiations look "hopeful" and an announcement should be coming soon, thoughts echoed by Hammond's mayor. Sources close to the negotiations said the state-Cabela's deal could be firm within days.

Cabela's bought the nearly 100-acre Woodmar Country Club from members in October for $14 million.

The giant outdoors retailer, which is based in Nebraska, plans to build a 150,000- to 250,000-square-foot store and surround it with complementary businesses such as hotels and restaurants, a concept it has executed in 14 other locations.

And that indeed remains the plan, Powell said.

"Even if things go perfectly smooth, it takes a couple of years between the time we pick a spot and the time we open," he said. "The Cabela's plan is, we plan it to be a '07 store. We'd like to be open then."

The company is waiting for details to be finalized so the project can move forward, Powell said.

"We're in the state of negotiations," he said. "It's in that stage where we're waiting while a lot of things are getting worked out -- details like the financing package, permits, engineering. How we're going to utilize the property."

Even so, some city permits have been obtained to facilitate work at the Woodmar site.

The company, which calls itself "The World's Foremost Outfitter," also is waiting for the state to give it incentives to help fund the $40 million in infrastructure improvements needed to complete the project on the property, which fronts Indianapolis Avenue south of Interstate 80/94.

The company and the state have been negotiating an incentive package for more than six months.

The incentives are in exchange for the peripheral development Cabela's complex would attract, the millions in sales tax revenues that would be produced and the jobs that would be brought to the area.

Powell declined to discuss what the negotiations entail.

"I can't comment on that," he said. "It's not a good time to be commenting."

However, Weston Sedgwick, spokesman for the Indiana Economic Development Corp., said Friday the agency's negotiations with Cabela's are "coming to a close."

"Everything looks very hopeful," he said. "We should have something to announce very soon."

Hammond Mayor Thomas McDermott Jr. also is upbeat about the project's progress.

"I'm hearing positive reports," he said. "Over the last couple of weeks I've talked with both sides. Progress is being made and I believe an announcement is coming shortly."

The city has supported the project since its inception.

"We maxed our TIF (tax increment financing) out to make it a reality," McDermott said.

The Cabela's megastore is expected to be a major draw in the Chicago area. Most Cabela;'s stores draw millions of visitors each year.

Developers are reportedly already looking at property near the Cabela's site to attract other major business to the area.